Volunteer Spotlight: Eric Sheets
Meet Eric — a Volunteer Who Makes It Happen
Eric has been with Cisco Systems for nearly 15 years, and one of the things he loves most about working there is the company’s amazing culture of giving back to the community. Cisco offers “Time2Give,” which provides 40 hours of Volunteer Time Off (VTO) each year, and Eric can use that time for anything he’s passionate about. For him, that means volunteering with Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, something he’s been committed to for several years now. Volunteering has been such a rewarding experience from day one, and he has many coworkers to thank for originally getting him involved.
What keeps Eric coming back to Habitat is the incredible feeling of making a long-term difference for a family. Almost every time, the homeowner is present and working to complete their sweat equity hours, which makes the experience even more rewarding. Eric gets to help a family find a great housing opportunity and spend time with his local teammates outside of the office, building team camaraderie. With the COVID-19 pandemic closing down many offices over the past few years, this consistent community outreach has been a vital way to stay connected and meet new people in his job.
One of Eric’s favorite memories is attending a home dedication a week or so before Christmas. Seeing the emotions, the tears, and the excitement of a family about to spend their first Christmas in their own home is truly heartwarming. It’s moments like these that make him sign up for every available volunteer date right away.
Through the years of volunteering, Eric says he has learned so much, from very practical building skills to understanding the financial responsibilities taught to homeowners. Every time he volunteers, he learns something new, which empowers him with knowledge he can even apply to his own house.
For those considering getting involved, Eric’s advice is clear: you don’t need any prior experience. Habitat will guide, lead, and help you with whatever needs to be done on the build site that day. If something feels too challenging, there’s always another way to contribute. The Habitat staff will ensure that everyone can make a meaningful impact, regardless of their comfort level with different tasks.
Eric is grateful to those coworkers who invited him to come out and volunteer with Greater Indy Habitat. It’s a rewarding opportunity that he values deeply and plans to continue, even independently of his company’s involvement.
